"Colonel William Rhett was born, it is said, 4 September 1666 in London, although no trace of him can be found there in the accessible printed records. He seems to have been captain of a merchantman in early life, and made his home at Brentwood, County Essex. There he was married, 1 September 1692, to Sarah Cooke. The family arrived in South Carolina in November 1694...Colonel Rhett died 12 January 1722, when on the point of leaving Charleston to be Governor of the Bahamas.

...Rhet was colonel of the Provincial Militia, receiver general of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina, surveyor and comptroller of customs for Carolina and the Bahama Islands. When in command of the colony ships, in 1706, he repelled a French and Spanish squadron [an attack on Charleston], and in 1718 he captured the famous pirate, Major Stede Bonnet, after a brilliant but bloody encounter at Cape Fear. Bonnet's ship, the Royal James, and Rhett's flagship, the Henry, were both aground, careening in the same direction. The deck of the pirate ship was protected, but the Henry's deck was in full view od the pirates, and was swept by cannon and pistol fire for five hours. 'Rhett was,' wrote McCrady, 'of violent and domineering disposition, but his repeated and signal services to the colony demanded its gratitude and respect.'"

Rhett's gravestone in St. Philip's Church Cemetery reads as follows:

In hopes of a joyful ResurrectionHere rests the body ofCol. William RhettLate of this Parish,Principall Officer of his Majesties Customsin this Province:He was a Person that on all occasions promotedthe Publick good of this Colony, and severalltimes generously and successfully ventured hisLife in defense of the same.He was a kind Husband,A tender Father,A faithful Friend,A charitable Neighbor,A Religious constant worshipper of God.He was born in London4th Sept 1666,Arrived and settled this Country19th Novembr 1694,And dyed suddenly but not unprepared12th Janry 1722In the fifty seventh year of his age.

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The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...'" (Ezekiel 37:1-5, NKJV)